Sleeping-car berth



(No Model.)

W. R. WARE.

SLEEPING OAR BERTH.

Patented Dec. 27,1881.

N. PETERS. Pholo-Liihngnpher. wnhin lou. D. c

WILLIAM R. \VARE, OF MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE OHI- OAGO, BURLINGTON AND QUINCY RAILROAD COMPANY, OF ILLINOIS.

SLEEPING-CAR BERTH.-

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 251,489, dated December 27, 1881,

Application filed August 22, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. WARE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milton, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Construction of Bert-hs for Sleeping-Cars, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad to the drawing hereto annexed, and forming a part of said specification.

My invention consists in novel improvements in and for the protection of sleeping-ear berths and embraces the following devices, to wit: the construction of an upper panel or apron,

r 5 into which the berth shuts when pushed up during the day-time, which is itself hinged and provided with looks, so as to be pushed up at night in the manner and for the prevention of accidents as hereinafter more particu- 2o larly described. I

Said accompanying drawing represents a cross-section of an upper berth in a sleepingcar, showing the berth, first, in its lowered position in full lines, and, second, in its upper position in dotted lines.

A represents the side of a car; B, the top of the same; 0, the berth, (shown in two positions, as aforesaid.) D represents the lower section, (shown only in part.) Grepresents the 0 upper panel or apron, into which said berth G shuts when closed up,hinged at r, and provided with the well known form of berth-lock with its knob or handle at L.

Heretofore the panel or apron in general use,

3 5 into which the berth shuts when closed up, has been fixed and stationary, so that if the car were derailed or overthrown and the berth-fastenin g, which usually consists of cords dropped from the berth and fastened below, loosened 40 or broken, as frequently happens, the upper berth was liable to be closed and locked upon its occupant within, said occupant being powerless to release himself and endangered with suffocation; or, if said berth was protected from 4 5 such aresult, as hereinafter noticed, it was protected by such complicated and inconvenient means upon the outer frame of the berth itself that the general practical use of such protecting-machines was in effect prohibited;

but my construction of said panel or apron is ]to provide it with hinges at its upper side within, as shown at r, and a handle or knob, rods, and locks similar to those in general use for the berth itself, the handle being shown at L, the rods and locks not shown, but obvious and well known, so that at night, when the berth is in use, the apron or panel Gr itself can be swung up to the ceiling of the car and locked, and if from accident, as aforesaid, said berth closes and looks, a space is provided for ventilation, 6o and to permit the occupant to reach out his arm to the handle or knob Land unlock the berth,

or to remove any weight or obstruction that may have fallen against said berth so closed 011 the overturning of the car. 'Thus it may be seen readily that my devices are simple but efficacious protections against the occupants being shut and locked into his berth beyond his power to release himself should the car be overthrown duringhis occupancy. Simi- 7o lar locks to those which look said apron or panel to the ceiling of the car, as shown in its upper position, also look the panel firmly and rigidly in its lower position, shown as aforesaid, so that said berth shuts into it as solidly as though it were stationary, and secures the same neat appearance, since the hinge does not appear from without.

I do not desire to claim, broadly, a device for preventing the automatic closing and locking of a berth, and the consequent danger of suffocation to its occupant on the overturning of a car, for such I beliei e to be old; but all previous inventions have been in the direction of somewhat cumbrous and complicated machines upon the outer frame of the berth itself, rendering ingress and egress difficult and inconvenient, and none of them have sought to eradicate the dilficulty by means of a hinged panel like mine or any other'contrivance upon 0 the top or ceiling of the car.

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. As an improvement in the construction of berths in sleeping-cars and. other convey- 5 ances, a protector consisting of a hinged panel attached to the ceiling of the car, out of the way, to prevent the automatic closing of the berth, substantially as described.

2. A hinged panel or apron attached to the ceiling of the car and adapted to be locked in 4. The combination of a hinged berth and two positions, the looks in both upper and a hinged upper panel or apron provided with 10 lower positions entering into the end or head locks, substantially as described.

and foot boards of the berth as and for the 5 purpose set forth. 7 WILLIAM WARE 3. The combination of a hinged upper berth In presence ofand a hinged panel or apron attached to the H. M. CHAPMAN, ceiling of the ear, substantially as described. J. LADD. 

